Carrying frame for giant glass sheets

ABSTRACT

A carrying frame for the transport of giant glass sheets in a vertical position, comprises a frame which is adapted for connection with a hoist and forming a generally vertical supporting surface, with carrying members arranged in the lower part and projecting to one side, on which the lower edges of the glass sheets are adapted to rest. On the carrying frame behind the abutment surface for the glass sheets on each side holding members are provided which extend laterally beyond the glass sheets, can be moved in a horizontal direction, can be fixed in the desired position, and project out of the abutment surface of the carrying frame. The holding members are for their part provided with means which fit round the glass sheets at the lateral edges and can be clamped against the glass sheets.

1 1 Oct. 21, 1975 1 1 CARRYING FRAME FOR GIANT GLASS SHEETS [75]Inventors: Ernst Muller, Porz; Dragan Popovic,

Merkstein, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Erste Deutsche Floatglas GmbH.&

C0., Aachen, Germany 221 Filed: June 29,1973

211 Appl.No.: 375,036

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 12, 1972 Germany 2234124[52] US. Cl 294/67 R; 211/41; 214/105 R; 294/67 AB; 294/67 BB [51] Int.Cl. B66C 1/22 [58] Field of Search 294/67 R, 67 A, 67 AA,

294/67 AB, 67 B, 67 BA, 67 BB, 81 R, 81 SF; 206/448, 449, 450, 451;211/41;

3,424,487 1/1969 Pector et al 294/67 R 3,719,284 3/1973 Rasmusson et a1.211/41 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,405,317 12/1965 France 294/67R Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner.lohnny D.Cherry Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Price, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper [57]ABSTRACT A carrying frame for the transport of giant glass sheets in avertical position, comprises a frame which is adapted for connectionwith a hoist and forming a generally vertical supporting surface, withcarrying members arranged in the lower part and projecting to one side,on which the lower edges of the glass sheets are adapted to rest. On thecarrying frame behind the abutment surface for the glass sheets on eachside holding members are provided which extend laterally beyond theglass sheets, can be moved in a horizontal direction, can be fixed inthe desired position, and project out of the abutment surface of thecarrying frame. The holding members are for their part provided withmeans which fit round the glass sheets at the lateral edges and can beclamped against the glass sheets.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet1of3 3,913,965

Fig.2

US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet2of3 3,913,965

US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet3 of3 3,913,965

CARRYING FRAME FOR GIANT GLASS SHEETS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field to which invention relates The invention relates to a carryingframe for the transport of giant glass sheets in a vertical position,comprising a frame which is adapted for connection with a hoist andforming a generally vertical supporting surface, with carrying membersarranged in the lower part and projecting to one side, on which thelower edges of the glass sheets are adapted to rest.

2. The prior art Carrying frames of this type serve primarily for thetransport within a factory or other industrial premises of packages ofgiant glass sheets. During the production and further processing ofsheet glass, glass sheets with very large dimensions, for example with alength of 6 meters and a breadth of 2.70 to 3.20 meters are stored inlarge quantities in an approximately vertical position. During suchstorage a series of glass sheets are connected together from a package,which is separated from adjacent packages in the storage frame by thelaying in of intermediate wood battens. Such packages generally have aweight of several tons, and package weights of up to 10 tons and morearequite conventional.

For the transport of such packages of glass sheets the carrying frame isacted upon from the free side of the package. In order to ensure thatthe glass sheets do not fall down during transport on the upper end ofthe carrying frame swivel-mounted claws are provided, which can be swungover the upper edge zone of the glass sheets and thus ensure that theglass sheets lie against the approximately vertical support face and theglass sheets do not topple over.

During the use of these carrying frames particular difficulties occur ifthe thickness of the individual glass sheets is less than approximately4 mm. In recent times, however, very thin glass sheets, that is to saydown to 2.7 mm and less, have been processed to an increasing degree.The difficulties in transport are due to the fact that the glass sheetsor the whole package is lacking in stiffness so that the glass sheetssag under their own weight and slip out of the holding means arrangedfor the upper edge.

In order to overcome this disadvantage the practice has already beenadopted of using a plate which is stiff so that it cannot bend, as theuppermost. or outer face sheet of the package of glass sheets. Thisplate can, for example, be a piece of very thick glass sheeting. Thispractice, however, involves difficulties and costs for it requiresadditional manual work for the placing on and the removal of suchsupport sheets, so that the availability of manpower is seriouslyimpaired.

There has also been a proposal to make use of a carrying frame in thecase of which on a longitudinal girder the package of glass sheets to betransported is engaged by pairs of support rails which are vertical andfit round on both sides. These rails are lowered from above over thepackage of glass sheets. Bolts which rest on the carrying rails at thebottom pair of each pair of carrying rails can be slid in and the glasssheets rest on the bolts. This proposed construction, however, requiresa very high head clearance in the premises and for the crane with whichthe carrying frame is used. The head clearance required for this purposeis not available in many cases however.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aim of the present invention is thereforethat of creating a transport frame for thin giant glass sheets, which isplaced on from one surface of the package of glass sheets andnevertheless makes possible reliable transport also of very thin glasssheets which are therefore not very resistant to sagging.

In order to achieve these and other aims the invention consists in thaton the carrying frame behind the abutment surface for the glass sheetson each side holding members are provided which extend laterally beyondthe glass sheets, can be moved in a horizontal direction, can be fixedin the desired position, and project out of the abutment surface of thecarrying frame, the holding members being for their part provided withmeans which fit round the glass sheets at the lateral edges and can beclamped against the glass sheets.

Preferably the holding members are provided in the lower part of theframe and two or more such holding members are arranged one above theother so that as a result the field of application of the invention canbe extended to glass sheets which are still thinner and.

larger in dimensions.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention as means forholding .the package of glass sheets, rods, straps or the like areprovided which fit over the whole package and can be fixed at twooppositely placed holding members. It has been found particularly usefulto provide for this purpose flexible straps, which can be fixed inposition by means of plug bolts on the holding members and which can beclamped or tightened against the stack of glass sheets by horizontaldisplacement of the holding members.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention on thehorizontally sliding holding members projecting out of the abutmentplane rigid claws are provided which act on the edge zone of the glasssheets and these claws can be displaced on or in the projecting holdingmembers in a direction perpendicular to the abutment surface of theframe. and can be fixed in the desired position. It has been foundparticularly surprisingly in this respect that this type of holdingarranged at the edge zones of the glass package as well makes possibleabsolutely reliable transport, something which could not have beenexpected on the basis of experience made with holdings on the upper edgezone.

In accordance with a further development of the invention in the case ofthis second embodiment the rigid claws acting on the edge zone areadapted to be tightened or clamped with the help of lead screw drivesagainst the stack of glass sheets.

LIST OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS Further features of the invention willbe gathered from the patent claims and the following description inwhich with reference to the accompanying drawings two particularlyconvenient forms of the invention are described.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the novel carrying framein one view.

FIG. 2 is a view from above of the carrying frame shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a detail of the carrying frame shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the carryingframe in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 shows the construction of the holding means of the secondembodiment of the invention in a detailed view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The carrying frame shown inFIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a conventional frame superstructure, consistingof two L-girders, other types of girders or tubes welded together toform a right angle and denoted by references 1 to 4. The frame isstiffened by a central support 5, diagonally arranged struts 6, 7 andthe transverse struts 8 and 9. The vertical L-girders or the like ortubes 1 and 3 are extended beyond the lower horizontal girder. At thelower end of these extensions carrying members 10, 11,12 which projectat a right angle to the frame plane are arranged, which fit under thepackage 13 of glass sheets. The central carrying member 13 can beprovided with an upwardly directed part at its front end. This upwardlyprojected part lies against the edge zone of the glass sheets and thusprevents a sagging at this position. On the top horizontal girder 2 alifting eye 14 is attached in the middle, with which the carrying framecan be suspended from the hook of a crane.

On the vertical girders l and 3 lugs 16 are provided with a spacingbetween them which project outwards beyond the rectangular frame andhave a rectangular cross-section. On these projecting lugs 16 theangular limbs 17, which can be displaced on the lug 16, are arrangedtogether with holding members which comprise the limbs 18 forming theprojecting parts. The limb 17 consists of U-girder, whose central web 19is extended so that it extends over the girder l or 3, respectively. Thelimb 17 is held on the lug 16 by the plug or dowel bolts 15, which passthrough suitable slots in the lateral webs of the U-girder. The centerweb 19 has a slot 20, through which the screw 21 passes. A lever nut 22is screwed on the screw. The screw 21 is held on the carrying frame by abracket 23, which is welded on the girder 1 and 3, respectively.

' On the holding member 17, 18 holding means 25 with a U-shapedcross-section are attached. These holding means have a series of holes26 which serve receiving plug bolts 27. The plug bolts 27 have a handlepart 28 and fit into metallic sleeves 29, which are mounted in the endparts, constructed as loops, of flexible straps 30. The flexible strapsconsist of polyamide and have a breadth of approximately cm. Fortightening the straps handles 32 are arranged on the holding members 17,18. Furthermore, projections 34, 35 are mounted on the one hand on themiddle web 19 of the sliding holding member and on the other hand on thegirder l of the frame. With the help of these projections using a lever36 the tension of the straps 30 can be further increased. As soon as thenecessary degree of tightness has been achieved in the strap 30 theholding member 17, 18 is fixed with the help of the lever nut 22.

In the glass warehouse the individual packages of glass are separatedfrom each other by means of wooden battens or other intermediatemembers. These spacing members must be accordingly so constructed thatthe straps 30 can be drawn through between two packages of glass. Thisoperation can be facilitated by placing threading strings between theindividual packages of glass on stacking so that the strings can be usedlater for drawing the straps between the packages of glass.

The carrying frame represented in FIGS. 4 and 5 again comprises a frameconstruction 41 to 52. The central carrying member 51 again has on itsfront end a cranked up part, which at this position as well prevents asagging of the glass sheets. On the vertical carriers 41 and 43 at theside remote from the glass package angle pieces 53 are welded on withwhose help continuous rectangular tubes 54 can be attached on the rearside of the frame and which extend laterally beyond the rectangularframe. In the ends of the rectangular tubes 54, rectangular tube pieces55 are arranged in a sliding manner. They can be fixed within therectangular tubes 54 with the help of plug bolts 56 which pass throughcorresponding holes.

On the rectangular tube pieces 55 guide tubes 58 are arranged which areset at the right angle to the pieces 55 and consist also of rectangulartube. In these guide tubes 58 the holding tubes 59 are mounted forsliding movement in the same direction as the guide tubes 58. Thissliding movement is brought about via the lead screw 60 which isactuated with a handle 61. At the free end of the holding tubes 59 claws62 are arranged which are cranked towards the glass package and theclaws can be moved against the package of glass with the help of thelead screw drive 60, 61. The surfaces of the claws 62 adapted to lieagainst the glass are provided with felt pads 63.

During the loading of this transport frame with a package of glass thefirst step is that of drawing out the plug bolts 56 or pins and drawingthe lateral holding devices out of the rectangular tubes 54 to such anextent that the transport frame can be applied to the package of glasswithout the claws 62 being any obstacle in this respect. After theapplication of the transport frame the holding devices are drawn backinto the rectangular tubes 54 and secured by means of the plug bolts orpins. Following this the claws 62 are brought into engagement with thepackage of glass by actuation of the hand wheels 61.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A carrying frame for the transport of thin giant glass sheets in avertical position, the frame having means for connecting it to a hoistand members having their forward faces arranged in a common generallyvertical plane to form a generally vertical support for engaging oneface of the glass, said frame also having carrying members at the lowerend thereof projecting outwardly from said vertical support upon whichthe bottom edges of the glass can rest, said frame characterised in thata holding member is provided at each end of said frame and meanssecuring said holding members to said vertical support; said holdingmembers being adjustable in length for extension and contractionparallel to the plane of said vertical support; the ends of said holdingmembers projecting outwardly from the plane of said vertical support inthe same direction as said carrying members; glass engaging means oneach of said holding members adapted to wrap around the edges of theglass sheets and to grip the edge portions of the forward face of theglass sheets for holding them against said vertical support.

2. A carrying frame as described in claim 1 wherein said glass engagingmeans is a flexible strap extending between and secured to each of saidholding members and adapted to overlie the glass sheets whereby theglass sheets are firmly held in engagement with said vertical support.

3. A carrying frame for the transport of thin, giant glass sheetsarranged in a vertical position, said frame having means for engagementby a hoist, said frame comprising: a plurality of rigid elements havingtheir forward faces arranged in a common plane to form a substantiallyvertical sheet positioning surface, a pair of said elements, one at eachside edge of said frame forming the sides of said frame; rigid sheetsupporting members secured to and projecting forwardly from the lowerportion of said rigid elements for engaging the lower edges of glasssheets; vertically spaced, laterally projecting members secured to eachof the sides of said frame, said laterally projecting members beinglaterally adjustable in length and having forwardly extending portions,rigidly secured to their outer ends; each of said forwardly extendingportions having glass sheet engaging means at their forward ends, saidglass sheet engaging means being adjustable toward and away from saidsheet positioning surface for clamping a plurality of glass sheetsfirmly against said positioning surface, said glass sheet engaging meansapplying positive clamping pressure to the sheets only adjacent thelateral edges thereof.

4. A carrying frame for the transport of thin giant glass sheets asdescribed in claim 3 wherein said glass sheet engaging means includes apair of telescoping elements and a threaded adjustment member extendinglengthwise thereof for positively moving one of said elements withrespect to the other.

5. A carrying frame for the transport of thin giant glass sheets asdescribed in claim 3 wherein said glass sheet engaging means is aflexible strap; a strap anchoring element at each end thereof, saidanchoring elements being movable lengthwise of said forwardly extendingportions to accommodate packages of glass sheets of varying thickness.

1. A carrying frame for the transport of thin giant glass sheets in avertical position, the frame having means for connecting it to a hoistand members having their forward faces arranged in a common generallyvertical plane to form a generally vertical support for engaging oneface of the glass, said frame also having carrying members at the lowerend thereof projecting outwardly from said vertical support upon whichthe bottom edges of the glass can rest, said frame characterised in thata holding member is provided at each end of said frame and meanssecuring said holding members to said vertical support; said holdingmembers being adjustable in length for extension and contractionparallel to the plane of said vertical support; the ends of said holdingmembers projecting outwardly from the plane of said vertical support inthe same direction as said carrying members; glass engaging means oneach of said holding members adapted to wrap around the edges of theglass sheets and to grip the edge portions of the forward face of theglass sheets for holding them against said vertical support.
 2. Acarrying frame as described in claim 1 wherein said glass engaging meansis a flexible strap extending between and secured to each of saidholding members and adapted to overlie the glass sheets whereby theglass sheets are firmly held in engagement with said vertical support.3. A carrying frame for the transport of thin, giant glass sheetsarranged in a vertical position, said frame having means for engagementby a hoist, said frame comprising: a plurality of rigid elements havingtheir forward faces arranged in a common plane to form a substantiallyvertical sheet positioning surface, a pair of said elements, one at eachside edge of said frame forming the sides of said frame; rigid sheetsupporting members secured to and projecting forwardly from the lowerportion of said rigid elements for engaging the lower edges of glasssheets; vertically spaced, laterally projecting members secured to eachof the sides of said frame, said laterally projecting members beInglaterally adjustable in length and having forwardly extending portions,rigidly secured to their outer ends; each of said forwardly extendingportions having glass sheet engaging means at their forward ends, saidglass sheet engaging means being adjustable toward and away from saidsheet positioning surface for clamping a plurality of glass sheetsfirmly against said positioning surface, said glass sheet engaging meansapplying positive clamping pressure to the sheets only adjacent thelateral edges thereof.
 4. A carrying frame for the transport of thingiant glass sheets as described in claim 3 wherein said glass sheetengaging means includes a pair of telescoping elements and a threadedadjustment member extending lengthwise thereof for positively moving oneof said elements with respect to the other.
 5. A carrying frame for thetransport of thin giant glass sheets as described in claim 3 whereinsaid glass sheet engaging means is a flexible strap; a strap anchoringelement at each end thereof, said anchoring elements being movablelengthwise of said forwardly extending portions to accommodate packagesof glass sheets of varying thickness.